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NHLBIHIN

HIN Health Action e-Bulletin


October 11, 2007

COPD - Learn More Breathe Better

Get Ready for November – COPD Awareness Month

Do you know anyone who suffers from the following?

  • Constant coughing, sometimes called "smoker's cough"
  • Shortness of breath while doing every day activities
  • Excess sputum production
  • Feeling like you can't breathe
  • Not being able to take a deep breath
  • Wheezing

These are all symptoms of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease); a serious lung disease that, over time, makes it hard to breathe. It is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. However, early detection and treatment of COPD can slow the disease and improve quality of life.

November is COPD Awareness Month. So take the opportunity to increase awareness and understanding of this disease and its risk factors in November and throughout the year.

To learn more about COPD, visit http://www.LearnAboutCOPD.org.

Use Online Resources to Plan Activities

The following speaker's guide and slides contain talking points, a script, and tips for making presentations about COPD. Great for use in:

  • Peer-to-peer presentations such as Grand Rounds, hospital/medical seminars and conferences
    Peer-to-peer Speaker's Guide / Peer-to-peer Slideset only
  • Public/patient education seminars and speeches/conferences
    Public/patient Education Speaker's Guide / Public/patient Education Slideset only

Screen the COPD Video

Personal experiences of three people diagnosed and living with COPD are profiled. This video demonstrates how real people took steps to manage the disease and breathe easier. It also answers basic questions about COPD and its risk factors. A useful tool for educating those at-risk for the disease, the video can be shown in settings such as community-based information seminars, health and wellness events and shows, and in health care provider offices or waiting rooms during COPD Awareness Month and the rest of the year.

Item #56-292N.

 COPD's Campaign graphic

Spread the Word with the Resource Kit

Looking for even more ideas for ways to spread the word about COPD? The COPD Learn More Breathe Better Resource Kit is full of tools and materials designed to help organizations, patient groups, and health care professionals spread the word about COPD.

The kit comes with a handy campaign background sheet, sample press releases, print public service announcements, and posters in hard copy and electronic formats (DVD, CD).

Access the kit online at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/copd/campaign-materials/resource-kit.htm.

Item #KT-048. Limit, one per customer or organization.


HIN1007COPDMO

Archived page, reproduced from a 2008 copy. It is reference material, not current guidance.